Sergeant Carter arrived in Sling Camp on 7th August 1916 and was assigned to the 3rd Reserve Battalion, Wellington Infantry and reverted, as was standard for reinforcement NCO's, to Private Carter.

Sling Camp provided basic training for the Western Front and three weeks later Private Carter was in France and

joined the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment.

In September 1916, the New Zealand Division was committed to the Battle of the Somme that had started in July that year. Private Carter also was with the 2nd Auckland Battalion during the June 1917 Battle of Messines.

In July 1917 Private Carter was transferred to the 1st Division Employment Company remaining in France through

1917 and 1918 although he did obtain two weeks leave in September 1917 and two weeks in March 1918 which was